Extension step-ladder



(No Model.)

P. S. SEAGRAVE.

' EXTENSION STEP LADDER. No. 278,052. Patented May 22,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERIC S. SEAGRAVE, OF ROCHESTER,MICHIGAN.

EXTENSION STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,052, dated May 22,1883. Application filed November 20,1882. (No inodel.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, FREDERIO S. SEAGRAVE,

of Rochester, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Extension Step-Ladders; and Ihereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs,which form a part of this specification.

The nature of this invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in the construction of extension step-ladders, or laddersof that class which "may be used as ordinary step-ladders are used, andin which the brace which supports the ladder when in use as astep-ladder is extended to enable the ladder to be used in reaching highobjects.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of parts and theirpeculiar combinations, by means of which the above-named 0bjects areattained, as more fully hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a perspective showing the ladder as in ordinary use as astep-ladder. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing the ladder folded andin dotted lines its extension feature. Fig. 3 is a horizontalcross-section on line 00 w in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a vertical centralsection .on line yy in Fig. 1.

a part of this specification, A represents the.

legs of the ladder proper, which are preferably formed of two pieces oftimber converging to the foot and spreading to the top. These two legs Aare set up parallel to each other, or nearly so, from the top endsthereof toward the center, and thence spread apart to form a broaderbase. This parallelism in the top portion of the legs is essential tothe proper working of the brace-legs. To these legs are secured all ofthe steps B of the ladder, except thetop one, by tenons, which entersuitable holes or mortises in the legs, as shown in Fig. 1, and thismethod of securing the steps secures the gradual spreading apart of thetwopieces which form the legs and holds them rigidly in position. Thetop step is secured upon the top of the front half of the leg and to thefront side Just below the upper step a bar, 0, is rigidly secured to therear side of the rear half of the legs, and asimilar bar, D, issimilarly secured at some little distance below. The ends of thislatter-named bar D are provided'with journals or, upon which swings theshelf E, or, when not in use, may be folded up between the two bars 0and D, and when in use for holding a pailof water as, for instance, whenthe ladder is employed in washing windows-is lowered to a horizontalposition and held in that position by a stop, or in any other convenientway.

FFarethetwolegsofthebraceandextension portion of the ladder, used as abrace to convert the ladder into an extension-ladder, as

shown in Fig.1, and as an extension of the a ladder itself, as shown inFig. 2.

are supported parallel to each other by the rounds G and the bar H, andthe legs are curved as shown, the barH being employed at the topthereof, and the parts are so arranged that when the upper portion ofthe bend comes in contact with the under side of the top step the bar Hrests upon the top of the bar G, and thelower part ofthe bend restsagainst the rear edge of the step next below the top one, and upon the,opposite side of the legs against the rear lower corner of the bar 1),these various points of contact forming points of resistance These legsto support the parts in their relative positions when used as astep-ladder, the springbolt I, passing through the bar 0 into the bar H,locking the parts together. To close the bracelegs upon the ladder, thisspring-bolt should be disengaged from the bar H and the foot of thebrace-ladder carried inward until the parts are folded together, whenthe spring-stops J will enter suitable holes in the sides of thebracelegs and lock the parts together in this position. These stops, orothers of similar nature, may be connected together, as shown in Fig. 3,so that one hand will simultaneously operate both the stops, leaving theother to manipulate the ladder. Now, should it be desired to use theladder for reaching a higher point than can be reached from the upperstep thereof, thestops J may be disengaged, and that of the ladder,which now is no longer in use as a step-ladder. Of course the reverse ofthis last-described motion returns the extension to its originalposition to be used as a brace for the step-ladder.

hat I claim as my invention is- 1. A step-ladder provided with a braceextensible to therear, and adapted also to slide longitudinally to formthe extension of the ladder, said brace having the upper part curvedforward, forminga rest for this end of the ladder, as set forth.

2. In a step-ladder, the combination ofahinged shelf, E, and therearward brace of the ladder, the latter having its upper end bentforward, forming a rest and allowing the shelf to be turned to ahorizontal position, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a step-ladder, legs A, formed of two integral diverging partsconnected at the lower end, steps B, and a rearward brace, havingitsupper end bent forward, arranged between the two legs, substantially asdescribed, adapting it to be folded in by a vertical movement projectingthe bent end thereof between the top stepand bar (3, as set forth.

4. The combination, of the legs A, steps B, rearward brace consisting oflegs F F and rounds G, bars C and D, and spring-bolts I and J, allconstructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

In witness that I claim the foregoing as my invention I hereunto affixmy signature this 6th day of November, 1882.

FREDERIO S. SEAGRAVE.

In presence of- E. SOULLY, (l. J. HUNT.

